Newsletters & Blog

A new employee’s first few days can shape how they feel about their role, their manager and the business as a whole. A strong employee induction helps new starters understand where they fit, what is expected of them and who they can go to for support. It also helps...

What is HR? HR stands for Human Resources. In simple terms, it is the part of a business that deals with people, employment, workplace policies and staff related processes. For some businesses, HR is handled by an internal HR manager or HR department. For others,...

How to Manage Time Off Without Losing Control of Your Business Summer should be the easiest time of year. Warmer weather, lighter evenings, holidays booked, and out-of-office replies switched on. But for most SME owners, it rarely feels that simple. Instead of...

The UK Government has confirmed it still has no plans to introduce statutory menstrual leave for people with endometriosis or adenomyosis, despite a petition with more than 109,000 signatures and a Westminster Hall debate on 13 April 2026. The petition called for up...

When a business is growing, HR often develops in stages. In the early days, it may be handled by the founder, a director, an office manager or whoever has the best grip on the paperwork. As the team grows, the people issues become more regular, more sensitive and more...

The Question Most Small Business Owners Get Wrong (Blog contribution by Phil Edwards, ETC) Hiring is one of the most stressful decisions for micro and small business owners. Hire too early and cash flow suffers. Hire too late and the owner burns out. Many owners delay...

Why this catches employers out There are plenty of bank holidays across 2026, which means the same questions will keep coming up for employers. What do you do with part time staff? What happens if someone does not usually work Mondays? How do you deal with holiday for...

Sickness absence has always been one of the trickiest areas for employers to manage. It sits at the crossroads of wellbeing, legal compliance and operational pressure, and when it is not handled consistently, it can quickly become a source of risk and frustration....

April always brings pay updates, and April 2026 is no different. National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates change, and statutory payment rates refresh for the new tax year. On paper, this can look like a straightforward payroll update. In practice, it often...